No Doubt was a 1986 American rock band from Anaheim, California. The band’s lineup for the majority of their career included vocalist Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young. In live performances since the mid-1990s, they have been joined by trombonist and keyboardist Gabrial McNair and trumpeter and keyboardist Stephen Bradley. But did you know that Gwen Stefani’s brother was the band’s original keyboardist?
Eric Stefani, Gwen Stefani’s brother, was the keyboardist for the band No Doubt. He left the band to become a part of the hit TV animated series The Simpsons.
When Did Eric Stefani Leave the Band?
In 1986, Stefani, Gwen, and John Spence formed the band No Doubt. The band grew in size and began performing live shows at venues such as Long Beach’s Fenders Ballroom. The band began creating original material, much of which was written by Eric Stefani.
In 1994, He left after the release of the band’s breakthrough album, Tragic Kingdom. At the 1998 Grammy Awards, Eric and Gwen were nominated as a songwriting team for Song of the Year for Don’t Speak. (Source: Time)
Career Beginning and Success of No Doubt
Gwen was introduced to 2 Tone music by Madness and The Selecter by her brother Eric, and in 1986, he invited her to provide vocals for No Doubt, a ska band he was forming. Interscope Records signed the band in 1991. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 1992, but its ska-pop sound was a flop due to the popularity of grunge. Stefani contributed guest vocals to Saw Red on Sublime’s 1994 album Robbin’ the Hood, before the mainstream success of both No Doubt and Sublime.
Stefani criticized female grunge artists for being too aggressive, citing Blondie singer Debbie Harry’s combination of power and sex appeal as a major influence. Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt’s third album, which followed the self-released The Beacon Street Collection, took more than three years to complete. Tragic Kingdom spawned five singles, the most notable of which was Don’t Speak, which topped the Hot 100 Airplay year-end chart in 1997.
Stefani dropped out of college for a semester to tour with Tragic Kingdom, but she did not return when the tour lasted two and a half years. The album received a Grammy nomination and sold more than 16 million copies worldwide by 2004. Rolling Stone magazine dubbed her the Queen of Confessional Pop in late 2000.
Stefani worked on the singles You’re the Boss with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, South Side with Moby, and Let Me Blow Ya Mind with Eve during No Doubt’s mainstream success. Return of Saturn, released by No Doubt in 2000, expanded on the new wave influences of Tragic Kingdom. The majority of the lyrical content focused on Stefani’s often rocky relationship with then-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and her insecurities, including her indecision about settling down and having a child.
Rock Steady, the band’s 2001 album, explored more reggae and dancehall sounds while maintaining the band’s new wave influences. The album produced career-high singles chart positions in the United States, and Hey Baby and Underneath It All received Grammy Awards. The Singles 1992–2003, a greatest hits collection that includes a cover of Talk Talk’s It’s My Life, was released in 2003. Eve and Stefani won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Let Me Blow Ya Mind in 2002. (Source: Encyclopedia)